Book Blog Tour: Cooking up a storm by Ashley Ladd. Plus an Interview with the very talented author.

BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – Cooking Up A Storm AUTHOR – Ashley Ladd GENRE – Contemporary MMM romance PUBLICATION DATE – July 11, 2014 LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 26,500 PUBLISHER – Totally Bound COVER ARTIST – Emmy Ellis

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Brooks and Rique desperately want to win the head chef’s position for eccentric millionaire Jonah Verleun on his beautiful, private, but peculiar island that includes a zoo full of exotic animals, an amusement park, and a monster shark tank beneath Jonah’s bedroom floor. While Brooks wants the job to escape his heartache and the lover who thwarted him, Rique is hiding from the mob hoping to live long enough to pay them off with the prize winnings. Fierce competitors, they cook up a storm in a series of cooking challenges all the while trying to turn down the heat on their intense attraction. When a hurricane strikes the island, the storm Rique has been cooking up, explodes and no heart or body are safe.

BUY & TBR LINKS

AMAZON KINDLE US – BARNES & NOBLES NOOK – GOODREADS

EXCERPT

Troubling thoughts whirled through Rique’s mind. Why had Jonah called him and Brooks into his office? Had they violated some fine-print rule he’d missed? Had Jonah learned about his debts and Mafia troubles?

Gulping, Brooks shared a worried glance. His gait was uneven and stilted and his frame was stiff and wary.

“Are we in trouble?” Brooks whispered.

Worried about the reason for their summons, Rique forced himself to relax and not shake his head at his lover and his loose-cannon lips. As much as he was beginning to love Brooks, there was no way he could share his mob secrets.

Not only would they overly alarm Brooks, but the security team might overhear and he didn’t trust anybody.

Jonah locked the door and leisurely returned to his desk. He folded himself into his chair and looked, long and assessing, at first Brooks then Rique. Finally, he said in a smooth, debonair voice, “No. Not at all. But I wish to remind you of your contract.”

Damn! Rique gulped as they pulled up chairs across from their boss. So they were in trouble. Too late, he realized his toes were tapping fast and that his fingers were linking and unlinking, so he stilled them.

“What about the contract?” Brooks inched forward in his chair and wrung his hands in his lap as his eyes bulged.

Jonah bent over the desk then he pointed at the security cameras.

Before a word came out of Jonah’s mouth, Rique had an epiphany. As he recalled Fiona’s warning, his heart threatened to burst. “You’ve been watching us. Everything. Everywhere.”

Several seconds later, Brooks blanched and his Adam’s apple convulsed. “You saw us together. Intimately, I mean.”

Leaning closer, Jonah nodded. “Yes. You gave your signed permission, and this is my private island which means it’s governed by my rules.”

It could mean Rique’s life if he left. With his heart feeling as though it was beating in his throat, he pleaded, “Please don’t kick us out. Our love lives are our choice and should be private.”

He watched a deep flush crawl up Brooks’ neck and into his cheeks as Brooks begged.

“Please don’t hold it against us. We didn’t plan to fall in love. It just happened. We haven’t hurt anybody.”

Fall in love? Shock and wonder filled Rique. Warmth flowed through him. So Brooks felt the same way he did.

Giddiness replaced the dread born moments before.

Brooks loved him. And he loved Brooks. How could he have fallen so hard, so fast? He reached over and put his hand on Brooks’ shoulder. Then he turned and faced Jonah. “I won’t apologize for loving this wonderful man. And I won’t stop loving him. If it means we can’t be together then I’m torn whether or not I still want the position.”

He couldn’t believe he’d just said that. Damn my heart!

When Brooks squeezed his hand and tilted his chin, light refracted off his glasses and made his pupils look fractured. “Ditto. No disrespect intended, sir.”

Laughing heartily, Jonah slapped the table, causing a few sheets of papers to float to the floor.

Is the man crazy?

Blushing, Jonah gave them a shy smile. “Don’t apologize, and please call me Jonah. I loved watching you. I wanted to join you. I came as much as you did.”

AUTHOR BIO

Ashley Ladd lives, loves, and writes in Paradise, aka Florida, thus many of her stories are set in the Sunshine State. Also a Trekkie and an Air Force disabled vet, Ashley often creates military heroes and heroines and goes where no woman has gone before. She loves romantic comedy, time travel, and cats so don't be surprised if a talking cat shows up in some of her stories.

Ashley writes for Ellora's Cave, Totally Bound, and New Concepts Publishing under this name. Please visit her blog at: http://www.ashleyladd.blogspot.com

To follow her on Twitter and Face Book, look for "AshleyLadd" (all one word, no quotes).

Interview with Author

What would you have done differently if you were the main character of your book? I wouldn’t have become indebted to the mob so I wouldn’t have to run for my life. In fact, the last time I went to a casino I realized I wanted to keep playing to recoup my losses or to win more as I was doing so lousy, so I stopped cold turkey. I haven’t been back since.

What was your inspiration behind this book? I love watching all Gordon Ramsey’s cooking shows and I’m a Food Network addict. Also, I’ve always loved action and adventure stories, especially all the Indiana Jones movies. Conversely, I’m scared of prehistoric monsters such as alligators and crocodiles.

Why did you become a writer? I didn’t have a choice. I started writing as soon as I could read. By the time I was 6 I was writing stories and never stopped.

Do you have a favorite author or authors? Stephen King. Stephen White. Sherryl Woods. Tina Wainscott. Holly Jacobs.

Do you like to write your books in a continuing series? I have a couple of series, but most of my books are single stories. The series are Purrfect Justice and American Beauty published by Ellora’s Cave and the Bats and Balls series published by Totally Bound.

If you could date any character from any book, who would it be and why? Brad Mueller from American Beauty. He’s a super sexy cop who will do anything to make a collar or win his lady.

What kinds of books do you like to read in your spare time? I love comedy romances and chick lit. I’m also a sucker for time travel stories.

As a reader and writer I think it is important to get to know your fans and make a connection with them as an author who takes the extra step to hear what their fans think and want in their continued writing is continued success and key to selling more books .Do you agree with that? Definitely! I can be contacted at chinara@aol.com, through my blog at: http://www.ashleyladd.blogspot.com, and on my facebook author page at: https://www.facebook.com/ashleyladdauthor

Do you cry when writing sad scenes? I’ve been known to do that on more than one occasion.

Did you have a Cover Designer? My publishers employ cover designers who design my covers.

Who is your fictional boyfriend or girlfriend crush? Stuart Redmond in The Stand by Stephen King.

If you were able to dine and have a one on one with your favorite writer/author who would it be? Stephen King

Do just re-read your favorite books? I’ve read The Stand by Stephen King a few times. I used to re-read my favorite Harlequin and Silhouette romances a LOT when I was a teenager. I wore several of them out.

Do you ever get in a reading slump like your readers do? Yes, but not lately. Last weekend all I did was read.

What is the funniest book you ever read? Holly Jacobs has some pretty funny stories that make me laugh out loud.

Thank you!

Ashley

FOLLOW LINKS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – WEBSITE / BLOG – FACEBOOK – TWITTER – GOODREADS

GIVEAWAY PRIZES

Two $5.00 Amazon gift cards

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